the rate of defense spending increase can be slowed. certainly we can find a coffeepot that costs something less than $7,000. and there are other ways of squeezing this budget without constantly picking on our senior citizens and the most vulnerable in american life. and that's why the congress, including the republicans, have not gone along with the president's recommendations. >> i would like to ask the audience please to refrain from applauding either side, it just takes away from the time for your candidates. and now it is time for the rebuttal. mr. president, 1 minute for rebuttal. >> yes. i don't believe that mr. mondale has a plan for balancing the budget, he has a plan for raising taxes. and, as a matter of fact, the biggest single tax increase in our nation's history took place 1977. and for the 5 years previous to our taking office, taxes doubled in the united states, and the budgets increased $318 billion. so, there is no ratio between taxing and balancing a budget. whether you borrow the money or whether you simply tax it aw